File card locking mechanism

ABSTRACT

The file card drawer employs a cylindrical bushing carried by a faceplate which receives a knob and holding rod assembly. The knob is undercut and engages a lip in the bushing for holding the assembly in place. A bearing plate at the inner end of the bushing has a hole whose center line is below the centerline of the bushing to form a fulcrum which applies a downward pressure on the rod to lock the knob assembly in place.

United States Patent Robert S. Cartwright Booneville, N.C.

Oct. 21, 1968 Apr. 20, 1971 Stewart-Warner Corporation Chicago, Ill.

Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee FILE CARD l/OCKING MECHANISM [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 533,988 2/1895 Hall 402/61 767,357 8/1904 Senge 402/502UX 819,367 5/1906 McPike 402/502UX Primary Examiner-Jerome Schnall Attorneys-Augustus G. Douvas, William J. Newman and Norton Lesser 2B 52 a 1 t... j Q 3 2.6 22 X -l L. 7 J

PATENTED APR20 l9?! INVENTOR ROBERT S. CARTWRIGHT ATTORNEY FILE CARD LOCKING MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to file cards, and more particularly to a simplified locking mechanism for locking the file card holding rod in inserted position within the file card drawer but, allowing the instantaneous release under applied pressure.

2. Description of the Prior Art File cards of the drawer type normal employ a file card holding rod which passes through the faceplate of the file card drawer. The inner end of the rod passes internally of the drawer through aligned holes in the file cards to maintain the same in position within the drawer. During removal of any one of the cards of the stack, or placement of a new card in a desired position within the stack, it is necessary to remove the holder rod by sliding the same outwardly of the apertured faceplate. Conventionally. the faceplate is provided with a hole near its bottom edge which carries a threaded bushing. The end of the rod adjacent the knob or the knob itself is threaded, such that, to remove any one of the file cards, it is necessary to rotate the rod about its axis to threadably disengage the knob or the rod from the faceplate bushing. This takes an inordinate amount of time especially where cards are being removed or added in substantial numbers.

There have been attempts to eliminate the threaded type of connection between the faceplate and the inserted holder rod by incorporating various latching devices involving flexible springs and the like carried either by the rod or the bushing receiving the knob end of the rod. The known constructions, however, have been defective in that during rough handling, the frictional locks become disengaged and the rod inadvertently falls out of its faceplate receiving aperture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to an index file card drawer or like container of the type employing an apertured faceplate wherein a file card knob and holder rod assembly extends into the drawer interior, by passing through the faceplate aperture. The inner end of the holder rod is maintained at a fixed elevation by a card follower or other means. The invention is directed to the improvement which comprises a large diameter bushing carried by the faceplate aperture and a bearing plate at the inner end of the bushing, provided with a rod-receiving aperture, the axis of which is offset from the axis of the bushing. An enlarged diameter portion of the rod is positioned within the bushing when the rod is fully inserted. A radially inward projecting lip is formed on the bushing and acts as a stop to prevent removal of the rod unless the knob end of the rod is flexed upwardly about the upper edge of the bearing plate aperture which acts as a fulcrum. This allows the enlarged portion of the rod to slide over the radially inward projecting lip, thereby releasing the holding rod.

The lip comprises a tab integral with the bushing and inclined in the direction of rod insertion. Likewise, the forward face of the radially enlarged portion of the rod is tapered to facilitate insertion of the rod with the radial projection sliding up and over the lip during insertion. The bearing plate is cupped to receive the cylindrical bushing for accurately locating the offset aperture of the bearing plate with respect to the axis of the bushing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a sectional, elevational view of a file card drawer employing the locking means of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional, elevational view of a portion of the drawer of FIG. 1 showing the holder rod deflected to allow removal of the same.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view, in section, of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 taken about lines 3-3.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view in section, of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1, taken about lines 44.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, a file card drawer I0 is shown as being of rectangular frame construction involving a faceplate 12 at the front end, sidewalls 14 and a rear wall or end plate 16, coupled together in conventional fashion by screws or the like (not shown). The bottom of the file card drawer may be open, as shown, or may be closed without in any way affecting the locking means of the present invention.

In conventional fashion, the file card drawer 10 is provided with a fixed guide rod 18 which extends longitudinally across the bottom of the drawer 10 having its inner end 20 received within bore 22 which passes partially through the rear wall or end plate 16. Attached to the rear wall of faceplate 12 is a backup plate 24, the backup plate being centrally recessed at 26, and is further bored or apertured at 28, within the vertical recess. The aperture 28 carries a cup-shaped bearing plate 30 having an upper flange portion 32 which is fixed to the recessed portion of the backup plate by a number of mounting screws 34. The bottom flange portion 36 of the bearing plate is provided with a hole 38 of a diameter slightly larger than that of the guide rod 18 for receiving the forward end 40 of the guide rod. Thus, the guide rod is fixedly carried by the file card drawer.

Further in conventional fashion, the fixed guide rod 18 carries a longitudinally adjustable card follower 42 which is formed of sheet metal or the like and includes a vertical follower plate 44, an integral U-shaped base section 46, a follower plate latch 48 and an integral spring 50 for frictionally latching the adjustable card follower in position. In this respect, the base section 46 is provided with guide rod holes 52 within each leg 54, the holes being slightly larger than the diameter of the guide rod 18. Further, the base 46 is provided with a slot 56 which receives the depending end 58 of the follower plate latch. The follower plate latch 58 is apertured at 60 for receiving the guide rod 18 and again the hole or aperture 60 is of a slightly larger diameter than that of the guide rod. The adjustable card follower is conventional, and the operator by pressing the follower plate latch 48, at its upper end, toward the follower plate 44 and against the bias of spring 50, causes the follower plate latch 48 to move into nearly vertical position. With the follower plate latch perpendicular rather than canted, the frictional restraint between hole 60 and the guide rod 18 is released and in this position, the adjustable card follower 42 may be freely slid longitudinally in either direction and reset to a new position.

The present invention is directed to an improved latching mechanism for the knob-and-holder-rod assembly 62. The knob-and-rod assembly includes a longitudinally extending card holder rod 64 which extends interiorly of the file card drawer, and is positioned above the fixed guide rod 18 and generally in line therewith. At the outer end of the assembly, there is provided a manually operated knob 66. In conventional fashion, the faceplate 12 is provided vin'th a rather large bore 68 and counterbore 70 through which the knob-and-holder-rod assembly 62 protrudes. A cylindrical bushing 72 having an internal diameter on the order of bore 68 and an external diameter on the order of counterbore 70 is frictionally carried by counterbore 70 with its outer end abutting the shoulder formed by counterbore 70 while its inner end is received within the cup-shaped bearing plate 30. In this respect, the hole 28 formed in the backup plate 24 is generally in line with the bore and counterbore 68 and 70 of the faceplate. Bearing plate 30 is provided with a hole 73, the axis of which is offset and below the axis of the bushing 72. The knob-and-rod assembly 62 is provided with an enlarged diameter section 74 which is of a diameter in excess of hole 73 but less than the internal diameter of bushing 72. The inner face 76 of this enlarged section is tapered while the outer face 78 of the projection is at right angles to the axis of the rod to form a stop for the removable knob and holder rod assembly. A portion 80 of bushing 72 is displaced inwardly to form a lip which acts as a fixed stop to normally prevent removal of the knob-and-rod assembly 62 after it has been fully inserted. It is noted that the inwardly directed lip 80 is inclined in the direction of insertion of the knob-and-rod assembly so that the tapered face 76 of the enlarged diameter section 74 rides up and over the lip 80 during insertion of the same. Further, it is noted that with respect to the adjustable card follower 42, the follower plate 44 is provided with an opening 82 while the follower plate latch 48 is provided with an aligned opening 84 allowing the inner end of the holder rod 64 to pass therethrough during insertion. The bottom edge of opening 84 in the follower plate latch acts in conjunction with radial projection 74 of the knob-and-rod assembly once the knoband-rod assembly has been fully inserted within the file card drawer, in the position shown in FIG. 1 to define the elevation of the inner end of the holder rod. Further, offset aperture 73 of the bearing plate 30 forms at its upper edge 86, a fulcrum which applies downward pressure to the rod intermediate of follower plate latch aperture 84 and rod radial projection 74 to thereby lock the knob assembly in place with the radial projection 74 of the rod inside of the bushing lip 80. Knob 66 is provided with radial flange 67 which overlies the bore 68 of the faceplate to provide a more attractive assembly.

It is noted that with the knob-and-holder-rod assembly 62 in its fully inserted position, the adjustable card follower 42 may be moved without materially affecting the file card locking mechanism. This is because even with the follower plate latch moved from an inclined to a vertical position, the movement of the aperture edge 84 is insufficient to allow the rod radial enlargement 74 to move up and over lip 80 into release position. into release position. causes the rod 64 to flex or bend about the fulcrum edge 86 of bearing plate aperture 73 whereupon, the rod radial enlargement 74 is raised above the inwardly projecting lip 80 of bushing 72 whereupon, the operator then pulls rearwardly upon knob 66 to slide the knob-and-holder-rod assembly 62 out of the apertured faceplate 12. After the rod radial enlargement 74 moves outwardly, beyond the inclined lip 80, the operator may allow the knob-and-holder-rod assembly 62 to return to its nonflexed position, that is, in a position in which the rod axis is parallel to the axis of the bushing 72. Continued removal is unimpeded with minimum frictional restraint.

While the faceplate, backup plate and rear plate formed of wood and the other components of metal, for example, such construction is exemplary only and all parts may be formed of metal, wood, plastic or of other material as desired. Further, while the locking mechanism has been described in conjunction with a holder rod 64 having a radially enlarged section 74, this element may be integrally formed with knob 66 rather than the rod 64, or it may be completely separate from both elements. In addition, while there is a requirement for the inner end of the rod 64 to be maintained at a particular elevation to allow the upper edge 86 of the bearing plate aperture 73 to act as a fulcrum, it is not necessary for the inner end of the rod to be supported by an adjustable card follower 42. For instance, in the most simplified case, the inner end of the rod is received by a bore or opening similar to opening 22 which receives the inner end of the guide rod 18. In this case, the provision of an adjustable card follower 42 may be completely eliminated.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

lclaim:

1. In a card file having a drawer including a faceplate having an aperture therein and a file card holder rod extending through said aperture and into said drawer interior, the improvement comprising: first means for maintaining the inner end of said rod generally in line with said faceplate aperture, radially projecting means carried by said rod within said faceplate aperture upon full rod insertion for defining the position of said rod relative to said faceplate aperture, a

bearing plate carried by said drawer intermediate said rod radially pro ecting means and said first means, said bearing plate including a rod receiving aperture, axially offset from said faceplate aperture to define a fulcrum, an inwardly projecting stop carried by said faceplate aperture exteriorly of said rod radially projecting means when said rod is fully inserted to prevent rod removal in the absence of rod flexure about said fulcrum, said bearing plate fixedly mounted in the interior of the faceplate and cup-shaped in the vicinity of said bearing plate aperture, and a cylindrical bushing positioned within said faceplate aperture having its inner end received within said cup-shaped bearing plate with said inwardly projecting stop comprising a bent-up lip formed integrally with said cylindrical bushing.

2. The file card drawer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said radially projecting means carried by said rod comprises an enlarged diameter portion of said rod including a tapered inner face, and said inwardly projecting lip formed integrally with said bushing is inclined in the direction of insertion of said rod.

3. In a card file having a drawer including a faceplate having an aperture and a file card holder rod extending through said aperture and into said drawer interior, the improvement comprising first means for maintaining the inner end of said rod generally in line with said faceplate aperture, radially projecting means carried by said rod within said faceplate aperture upon full rod insertion for defining the position of said rod relative to said faceplate aperture, a bearing plate carried by said drawer intermediate of said rod radially projecting means and said first means, said bearing plate including a rod receiving aperture, axially offset from said faceplate aperture to define a fulcrum, and an inwardly projecting stop carried by said faceplate aperture exteriorly of said radially projecting means when said rod is fully inserted to prevent rod removal in the absence of rod flexure about said fulcrum, said first means for maintaining the inner end of said rod generally in line with said faceplate aperture comprising an adjustable card file slidably positioned relative to said file drawer, said drawer further including an elongated guide rod extending longitudinally and parallel to said holder rod, means carried by said bearing plate for fixedly locating the faceplate end of said guide rod, a backup plate fixedly coupled to one side of said faceplate, a vertical recess formed in said backup plate on the side adjacent said faceplate, a hole formed in said backup plate and axially aligned with said faceplate aperture, said bearing plate being cup-shaped in sectional configuration, means for fixedly coupling said bearing plate within said backup plate recess, with cup-shaped portion of said bearing plate being received within the backup plate opening, a counterbore formed in said faceplate aperture, and a cylindrical bushing received by said counterbore with the inner end thereof terminating within said cup-shaped bearing plate, and said inwardly projecting stop comprising a formed lip, integral with said bushing.

4. The file card drawer as claimed in claim 3 wherein, said radially projecting means carried by said rod comprises an enlarged diameter portion including a tapered inner face and a sheer rear surface, and wherein, said integrally formed lip of said cylindrical bushing, is inclined in the direction of holder rod insertion. 

1. In a card file having a drawer including a faceplate having an aperture therein and a file card holder rod extending through said aperture and into said drawer interior, the improvement comprising: first means for maintaining the inner end of said rod generally in line with said faceplate aperture, radially projecting means carried by said rod within said faceplate aperture upon full rod insertion for defining the position of said rod relative to said faceplate aperture, a bearing plate carried by said drawer intermediate said rod radially projecting means and said first means, said bearing plate including a rod receiving aperture, axially offset from said faceplate aperture to define a fulcrum, an inwardly projecting stop carried by said faceplate aperture exteriorly of said rod radially projecting means when said rod is fully inserted to prevent rod removal in the absence of rod flexure about said fulcrum, said bearing plate fixedly mounted in the interior of the faceplate and cup-shaped in the vicinity of said bearing plate aperture, and a cylindrical bushing positioned within said faceplate aperture having its inner end received within said cup-shaped bearing plate with said inwardly projecting stop comprising a bent-up lip formed integrally with said cylindrical bushing.
 2. The file card drawer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said radially projecting means carried by said rod comprises an enlarged diameter portion of said rod including a tapered inner face, and said inwardly projecting lip formed integrally with said bushing is inclined in the direction of insertion of said rod.
 3. In a card file having a drawer including a faceplate having an aperture and a file card holder rod extending through said aperture and into said drawer interior, the improvement comprising first means for maintaining the inner end of said rod generally in line with said faceplate aperture, radially projecting means carried by said rod within said faceplate aperture upon full rod insertion for defining the position of said rod relative to said faceplate aperture, a bearing plate carried by said drawer intermediate of said rod radially projecting means and said first means, said bearing plate including a rod receiving aperture, axially offset from said faceplate aperture to define a fulcrum, and an inwardly projecting stop carried by said faceplate aperture exteriorly of said radially projecting means when said rod is fully inserted to prevent rod removal in the absence of rod flexure about said fulcrum, said first means for maintaining the inner end of said rod generally in line with said faceplate aperture comprising an adjustable card file slidably positioned relative to said file drawer, said drawer further including an elongated guide rod extending longitudinally and parallel to said holder rod, means carried by said bearing plate for fixedly locating the faceplate end of said guide rod, a backup plate fixedly coupled to one side of said faceplate, a vertical recess formed in said backup plate on the side adjacent said faceplate, a hole formed in said backup plate and axially aligned with said faceplate aperture, said bearing plate being cup-shaped in sectional configuration, means for fixedly coupling said bearing plate within said backup plate recess, with cup-shaped portion of said bearing plate being received within the backup plate opening, a counterbore formed in said faceplate aperture, and a cylindrical bushing received by said counterbore with the inner end thereof terminating within said cup-shaped bearing plate, and said inwardly projecting stop comprising a formed lip, integral with said bushing.
 4. The file card drawer as claimed in claim 3 wherein, said radially projecting means carried by said rod comprises an enlarged diameter portion including a tapered inner face and a sheer rear surface, and wherein, said integrally formed lip of said cylindrical bushing, is inclined in the direction of holder rod insertion. 